A developing aspect of our game

[Earl Hafler]

I was one of those advocating the " Xabi out - Barry in " transfer during the summer as i expected it to see an improvement in our short passing and ball retention with fewer " direct " passes being hit from our half. Not one of the other top teams has two midfielders like Xabi and Gerrard who love to knock a 40 yard pass when sometimes 10 yards will do.

 

Anyway, we've recently started to look much smarter with the ball. If the ball is moved forward and the killer pass isn't on, then it's passed back - often to Agger or Carra - and the move is started again. It's something that we were masters at back in the 80's ( although this was helped enormously by not having the pass-back rule in place then )

 

Even in difficult away matches and against the Mancs, when in recent years we've been prone to playing a hurried pass, we're now being much smarter, much more efficient with the ball.

 

Riera and Keane have helped - especially Riera who is such an improvement on recent left sided players we've had. Greater confidence, improved form of Kuyt also means the ball stays longer in the opponents half.

 

Chelsea will be a good test of how far we've come.

[Gunga Din]

i think that's spot on, and is also a factor in why we have done well later in games, because the opposition spend such long periods of the game chasing the ball, they tire quicker than us. if ony kaizer was here we could ask him what are possession stats were this season.

[Cobs]

Chelsea will be a good test of how far we've come.

 

which is key

 

and why the bunting should be on hold for a bit yet

[Bo Benn]

I'm not sure we keep the ball very much more now than the 2nd half of last season. Yesterday I think was a bit exceptional in terms of possession. However we seem more balanced, the introduction of Riera I think has helped a lot. Now the ball is more evenly distributed over the opponents half than it used to be. Thereby we get more options when attacking and we can not only retain the ball better but also do it further up the pitch.

 

edit: realise I may have contradicted myself a bit there but you get the picture

Edited October 23, 2008 by obey Hysén

[Earl Hafler]

i think that's spot on, and is also a factor in why we have done well later in games, because the opposition spend such long periods of the game chasing the ball, they tire quicker than us. if ony kaizer was here we could ask him what are possession stats were this season.

 

I hope this place isn't like Field Of Dreams.

 

But a good point about the stamina.

 

I was watching us against Madrid and it was very evident - no route down the left so Riera would pass it to Xabi, who'd pass it to Agger and the ball would be switch that way instead of a 40 yard crossfield ball that people sigh at because it almost worked but ultimately went out of play.

 

Not surprised to see us take our foot off the gas there with the big game on Sunday

[Earl Hafler]

I'm not sure we keep the ball very much more now than the 2nd half of last season. Yesterday I think was a bit exceptional in terms of possession. However we seem more balanced, the introduction of Riera I think has helped a lot. Now the ball is more evenly distributed over the opponents half than it used to be. Thereby we get more options when attacking and we can not only retain the ball better but also do it further up the pitch.

 

edit: realise I may have contradicted myself a bit there but you get the picture

 

 

STATLER: Boo!

WALDORF: Boooo!

 

STATLER: That was the worst thing I’ve ever heard!

WALDORF: It was terrible!

STATLER: Horrendous!

 

WALDORF: Well it wasn’t that bad.

STATLER: Oh, yeah?

 

WALDORF: Well, there were parts of it I liked!

STATLER: Well, I liked alot of it.

 

WALDORF: Yeah, it was GOOD actually.

STATLER: It was great!

 

WALDORF: It was wonderful!

STATLER: Yeah, bravo!

 

WALDORF: More!

STATLER: More!

WALDORF: More!

STATLER: More!

 

 

 

It's not just about keeping more of the ball, it's being smarter with it.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Earl Hafler

[Dominus Maximus]

One of the things I've noticed, is that we aren't afraid of playing in the small areas. And the pass and move mentality has returned for good. Pass, and move, pass and move. Actually we are very capable of playing good possession footy.

[Mike]

benayoun does pass and watch

[Dominus Maximus]

benayoun does pass and watch

 

True...

[Earl Hafler]

benayoun does pass and watch

 

because he doesn't like tracking back

[cymrococh]

benayoun does pass and watch

That's not a pass, he's trying to control it.

[Bootle Buck]

Our work rate has been excellent this season. When we lose a ball we seem to get it back almost immediately and seem to swarm many teams. I still think we tend to take the foot of the gas after we take a lead and invite pressure. When we have been behind this year we really start to dominate teams and wear them down.

[Guest spk]

i think this is completely wrong. we've sustained a challenge lately from teams dropping players through reds. at this point we've really done anything sufficiently well to argue theres a league challenge on the cards. im also getting a tad tired of reading how awesome xabi is ... hes been far from that. if he has been comparitively then if anything thats damning of the rest of the squad imo.

 

also barry appears to be doing fairly well ... better some might say that alonso. certainly hes picked his game up but hes far from good enough to be title challenging.

[John am Rhein]

I was one of those advocating the " Xabi out - Barry in " transfer during the summer as i expected it to see an improvement in our short passing and ball retention with fewer " direct " passes being hit from our half. Not one of the other top teams has two midfielders like Xabi and Gerrard who love to knock a 40 yard pass when sometimes 10 yards will do.

 

Anyway, we've recently started to look much smarter with the ball. If the ball is moved forward and the killer pass isn't on, then it's passed back - often to Agger or Carra - and the move is started again. It's something that we were masters at back in the 80's ( although this was helped enormously by not having the pass-back rule in place then )

 

Even in difficult away matches and against the Mancs, when in recent years we've been prone to playing a hurried pass, we're now being much smarter, much more efficient with the ball.

 

Riera and Keane have helped - especially Riera who is such an improvement on recent left sided players we've had. Greater confidence, improved form of Kuyt also means the ball stays longer in the opponents half.

 

Very true. We've shown far more patience and intelligent unhurried use of the ball than for a long time. I'm sure this - plus the apparent improved stamina that was mentioned - is a big reason why we've been able to come back to win games we would usually have drawn or even lost in the past.

[fred milne]

I was one of those advocating the " Xabi out - Barry in " transfer during the summer as i expected it to see an improvement in our short passing and ball retention with fewer " direct " passes being hit from our half. Not one of the other top teams has two midfielders like Xabi and Gerrard who love to knock a 40 yard pass when sometimes 10 yards will do.

I've never had Alonso down as a midfielder who loves to knock a 40 yard pass when sometimes 10 yards will do. Gerrard yes but not Alonso.

[Coyler]

For f***'s sake, the other day Alonso's pass completion rate was getting poo-pooed because of his preference for short passes as opposed to Killer-Ball Barry.

[Bo Benn]

Xabi is awesome

[MarkD]

I'm going out on a limb here, bear with me....

 

Xabi is not Barry - and when we are winning that will be a good thing and when we are losing that will be a bad thing.

 

Controversial? Vote now!

[David Hodgson]

Very true. We've shown far more patience and intelligent unhurried use of the ball than for a long time. I'm sure this - plus the apparent improved stamina that was mentioned - is a big reason why we've been able to come back to win games we would usually have drawn or even lost in the past.

 

Yeah, we've certainly being playing more stylish football,which is always good to see.

[Scapegoat]

The hoof is slowly being eradicated too, which is excellent. Next up, our static movement(does that even make sense), you get what i mean anyway.

 

We've also looked a bit more likely from set-plays.

[John am Rhein]

Yeah, we've certainly being playing more stylish football,which is always good to see.

 

An effect rather than a cause - as always

[Earl Hafler]

I've never had Alonso down as a midfielder who loves to knock a 40 yard pass when sometimes 10 yards will do. Gerrard yes but not Alonso.

 

I thought you'd seen the highlights reel they showed on MOTD where that's all he did ? Knocked long passes to Gerrard instead of playing it short.

 

Xabi's form has also improved this season and he certainly looks fitter ( in the athletic sense )

[Earl Hafler]

For f***'s sake, the other day Alonso's pass completion rate was getting poo-pooed because of his preference for short passes as opposed to Killer-Ball Barry.

 

By me ? No. So shut up

[David Hodgson]

An effect rather than a cause - as always

[Guest Silkky Skillz]

The hoof is slowly being eradicated too, which is excellent. Next up, our static movement(does that even make sense), you get what i mean anyway.

 

We've also looked a bit more likely from set-plays.

 

It comes natural when the players have the belief. We are now used to bossing games and we are also not scared when we go one behind. We know what we can do. But against Chelsea we have to keep it tight, theres no way we can make a comeback against them. Just let us fookin go for it, let them care about us. We have that much ability, even away. They are fantastic at home, and all respect for that record, but it's time someone break it.